Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Gosford on 26 May 2022.
Best Bet: SMOOTH FLIGHT (Race 5)
Value Bet: ROTHROCK (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
5 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| 11 | 3 | 5 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either or both of them should be respected.
Of the raced runners, the day’s best bet, SMOOTH FLIGHT could prove hard to topple from his handy draw two. He finished a head second when making his debut over 1100m, despite being bumped shortly after the start and coming four wide into the home straight. He finished off his race well and he would have learnt from that experience. With the natural improvement that can be expected and with ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield in the irons, he should get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
WONDERWOMEN is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and tried to go from jump to wire before finishing third last time out over 1100M, just over a length and a half behind the winner. She returns from a 16-week rest but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and third in the latest. She gets gate five and is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne, so we could have an all ex-SA exacta.
CALIFORNIA PRESS put his disappointing penultimate run behind him when finishing third last time out over 1100M, two lengths back from the victor. He only saw daylight at the 200M mark that day, but delivered a powerful finish over the closing stages. He is drawn one inside the latter and should be involved in the finish here.
Race 6
As with the previous race, there are a number of unraced runners in this contest, so the same comment in respect of keeping an eye on the betting moves applies here as well. VALENTINA EXPRESS is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she showed plenty of toe when finishing second first time out over 1100M, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She has a useful draw two and she should be right up there when they hit the line.
NATION PRIDE finished fifth on debut over five furlongs and then made the expected improvement to end up in third place last time out when stepping up to six furlongs, just under a length behind the winner. He was returning from a 20-week break that day and attracted plenty of betting support, but after hitting the front at the 300M pole, he was collared late. From gate seven, he should be in the mix.
ROCK CHANT is another 3yr old filly in the race. She raced up with the leaders when finishing sixth in her latest outing over five furlongs, just over five lengths adrift of the winner when returning from a 21-week rest, but the form of that race has been franked. She faces a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, she will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.
Race 7
Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race, but the day’s value bet, ROTHROCK is give the nod for top spot. She followed up her penultimate run victory over a mile with a third-place finish next time out over 1700M, just a head back from the winner. She raced just behind the leaders in that contest and then stayed on well over the closing stages, suggesting that she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. She has pulled gate two which will do her no harm.
ROYAL BALLET showed solid improvement when trying to go from gun to tape before being nabbed late, ending up in third place last time out over a mile, just over a half-length back from the winner. She will have to overcome a wide draw twelve, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
THAILAND jumped awkwardly and then raced wide without cover before finishing second last time out over 2300M, one and a half lengths off the winner. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate sixteen, but he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the closing stages of the race.
Race 8
Two 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but WOLF QUEEN is taken to lead the field home. She has her hat-trick run after victories over five furlongs and the latest over six furlongs by one and a half lengths. She does return from an 18-week spell, but did finish fourth in her only barrier trial. From gate five, she could be the one to side with here.
ALL GIRLS last three starts have yielded a second, a win and then another second-place finish last time out over 1100M, just a short-head behind the winner. She was bumped shortly after the start that day, so that effort was commendable. She gets a wideish gate seven, but she is likely to turn in another honest performance today.
TUCSON VALLEY has won three of her last four starts and goes for her hat-trick after two wins over 1100M, the latest by 1.8L. She is a speedy sort who should use that pace to move across without using up too much energy and with having 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice, she should be included in all bets.
